GENERAL REPRESENTATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF FLANDERS

EMBASSY OF BELGIUM

EVENTS

Waelrant Youth Choir performs at the University of Pretoria

The Waelrant Youth Choir will perform with the University of Pretoria Youth Choir and the Kokopelli Choir from Canada on Friday 20 July at the University of Pretoria's Musaion.

The Waelrant Youth Choir, from Antwerp in Belgium, was founded in 1968 and has won numerous international choral competitions over the years. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to hear three top youth choirs, participants at the World Choir Games which took place last week in Tshwane.

NEWS

On 10 and 11 January the General Representative of the Government of Flanders, Dr. Geraldine Reymenants, participated in the third Ministerial PAGE Conference, in Cape Town, South Africa, where she advocated for more ambitious action to reduce our carbon footprint. The PAGE Conference brought together political leaders, UN agencies, civil society representatives and practitioners to discuss successes and challenges regarding the transition to a green and inclusive economy in their respective countries. Participants discussed themes such as social inclusion, circular economy, green finance and sustainable consumption and production.

On the first of January, the third Country Strategy Paper (2019 – 2023) for Development Cooperation between Flanders and Malawi entered into force. Flanders provided 25 million euros for this cooperation programme over a period of five years.

The Government of Flanders approved a package of 11.5 million euros for international climate finance. In total, the Government spends this year 15 million euros for international climate finance. As a result, the target of contributing 14.5 million euros annually is more than achieved.

On 4 December, the eighth Joint Committee for Cooperation between Flanders and South Africa took place in Pretoria. The governments of Flanders and South Africa have enjoyed a fruitful relationship over the pasttwenty years. Themeetingprovidedroom for a mutual discussion on political, social and economic trends and for an extensive overview of these longstandingbilateral relations. Several common interests and topics for future cooperation were identified, including innovation, research, blue and circular economy, youth, andculture.

On 16 November, the Government of Flanders approved a grant of 5 million Euro for agricultural projects in Malawi. A total of 300,000 families in rural areas will benefit. “The majority of the population consists of smallholder farmers. By increasing their productivity and improving market access for crops, Flanders chooses to contribute towards an efficient agricultural policy in Malawi,” according to Minister-president Geert Bourgeois.